BYU looms between Tigers, WCC title game

The Pacific women's basketball team is on the verge of a spot in the West Coast Conference tournament championship game, but to do so, they'll have to overcome the immense presence of BYU's Jennifer Hamson.

The Pacific women's basketball team is on the verge of a spot in the West Coast Conference tournament championship game, but to do so, they'll have to overcome the immense presence of BYU's Jennifer Hamson.

Hamson, the WCC player of the year and defensive player of the year, stands 6-foot-7 and was dominant on both ends of the floor as a senior. The No. 3 Tigers (18-11) and the No. 2 Cougars (25-5) split their season series, and the rubber game will come today at approximately 2:30 p.m. at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas in a semifinal matchup that will air on BYUtv. No. 1 Gonzaga plays No. 4 Saint Mary's at noon in the other semifinal.

Hamson had 22 points and six rebounds in Pacific's 75-62 win in Provo, Utah on Jan. 2 and had 25 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks in BYU's 88-57 annihilation of the Tigers on Feb. 1 at Spanos Center. She averages 18.3 points, 11.4 rebounds and a nation-leading 4.2 blocks per game.

"She's a difference-maker and no one else has anyone like her," Pacific coach Lynne Roberts said. "We have to do a better job against her in the paint defensively and on the boards, but it's easier said then done. We're hoping our speed causes her some problems."

Roberts said Lexi Eaton (17 points per game), Kim Beeston (11.6) and Morgan Bailey (10.7) are great complementary players around their center, which is why BYU is likely to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament even if it doesn't win its next two games. Pacific will need junior center Kendall Kenyon (16.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game) to stay out of foul trouble and stay with Hamson.

"We've made adjustments on guarding her and doubling her and we're also go try to go five out and get her in some foul trouble," Kenyon said. "We want to get some revenge and earn some respect in this conference."

Pacific has won 12 of 15 games while averaging 80.9 points during that stretch.

The Cougars held WCC opponents to 62.4 points per game, including the 57 they allowed to Pacific in their win last month.

Senior point guard KiKi Moore has raised her level of play over the past four games, averaging 23.3 points, 9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.

Roberts said "she's such a competitor and highly motivated to win and we're lucky to have her." Moore said "it'll be exciting playing them again when it really counts."

Senior captain Sam Pettinger said the Tigers are proud of how they have played for the past two months, but know they'll likely have to play their best game of the season to get a win today. Roberts said the coaching staff doesn't want the players to worry about anything but the game.

"We can't focus on outcome, because then we could get tight," Roberts said.

"We have to just stay in the moment and continue improving. Let's just play great."

Contact reporter Jagdip Dhillon at (209) 546-8292 or jdhillon@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/sportsblog and on Twitter @jagrecordsports.